The Duplicitous Debutante (Cotillion Ball #6)

Rosemary Fitzpatrick is at odds with her mother. Said parent wants her to have a season and find a suitable husband, while Rosemary is interested only in writing dime novels and supporting herself. She is now in a bit of a pickle:  her publishing house has been sold and the new owner wants to meet all of the authors face-to-face. The problem is, Rosemary writes under the name F.P. Elliot and has been posing as a man, because no one will publish a woman’s works. Henry Cooper, the new publisher, falls in love with Rosemary as soon as he sets eyes on her. He thinks she is a working-class girl, but wants to marry her anyway. He is shocked when he is introduced to her at the cotillion!

This piece was filled with easy to love characters. Even the “heavy” in this novel becomes likable before the end. "The Duplicitous Debutante" is a light read, never delving too deep into the issues faced by the protagonists.  Unfortunately, this makes the story unbelievable, because Rosemary goes too much against the convictions of the day. It was unacceptable for women to run around unescorted as does Rosemary. In those times, her reputation would have been ruined and she would not have been accepted at the cotillion. Henry suffers from a two-dimensional portrayal that focuses on his pre-occupation with sex.  If the reader can overcome the anachronisms they will discover a fast, enjoyable treat that can be read in an afternoon. Readers, prepare yourselves for a sweet, yet racy romance!

Belinda Wilson